Dr. Tira: I?ll give you a short and simple answer. A diaspora missions strategy (1) is economically sustainable; (2) benefits from travel accessibility to the target audience; (3) has less political and legal restrictions; (4) is accepting of partnerships among like-minded people and organizations; and (5) is conducted by more than a few experts or International Workers.

However, diaspora missions should not be promoted over traditional missions. These two strategies are not in competition, but are complementary in light of the global situation in the 21st Century.

Dr. Tira: Historically, diaspora missions has been integral to the C&MA. Dr. A.B. Simpson, the founder of the C&MA, started reaching out to Italian immigrants in New York at a time when it was unfashionable to interact with non-English newcomers.

Then in the 1980s, at the formation of the Alliance in Canada, we saw a rise of births of immigrant or ethnic congregations utilizing the vehicle called the Canadian Ministries. These church planting initiatives among the so-called 'New Canadians' accelerated in the 1990s when national committees were formed such as the Canadian Chinese Alliance Churches Association, Association of Vietnamese Alliance Churches, Conference of Filipino Alliance Ministries, Association of Spanish Alliance Ministries, and others.

Over the years, many local churches in Canadian urban centres became more aware of this new phenomenon of 'diaspora,' so that these Alliance congregations were intentionally reaching out to new Canadians. Innovative ministries were launched. Alliance people were intentionally reaching out with great success to international university students. Many were also heavily supporting global diaspora networks.

It must be noted that many of our International Workers are non-Caucasian; they are products of the Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese congregations. However, while diaspora missions is long-standing in the Alliance in Canada, some of our denominational efforts are random and could be further synchronized to be more strategic across our denomination.

1. Rethink diaspora as part of God's sovereign design to accomplish his mission (i.e. Mission Dei).
2. Teach our congregations to be hospitable.
3. Build cultural awareness. We need to educate our congregations to be effectively relational in our 'global neighbourhood.'
4. Come up with more creative ministries. For example, in recent years, FIN brokered a partnership with Operation Mobilization, Campus Crusade for Christ, the Seamen's Christian Friends Society, and the Alliance Graduate School in Manila. This partnership formed Alliance of Churches at Sea (ACAS). Since Filipinos compose over 25 percent of the global maritime workers, ACAS has been training Filipino seafarers to plant churches on board cruise ships, supertankers, and container ships. This is a case of a creative, multi-directional and trans-national approach to church planting.
5. Accelerate formal and non-formal training for our future pastors, International Workers and lay leaders to prepare them for ministry in our borderless world.
6. Affirm and celebrate the GLOCAL ministries of Alliance people. Some wonderful examples are the international ministries in Edmonton, AB and also those at the Toronto Alliance Church in Toronto, ON. They are intentionally reaching out to new Canadians in the heart of their cities.

We have an unprecedented opportunity to introduce the diasporas to Christ and invite them to become part of his Church. Within the Alliance in Canada, we are proactively responding to this major global trend of diasporas and recruiting participants for this new missions initiative.

Read the complete interview with Dr. Tira...

Peter White is an independent communication, media and adult education consultant